Tri-Valley grad Loughney might give London Olympics a go

Tuesday

Mar 6, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Is London calling for Ryan Loughney? Loughney, a Tri-Valley graduate, is focusing his attention on making the 2016 Olympic Games in the hammer throw, but he has not ruled out a chance to make this summer's London Olympics.

Ken McMillan

Is London calling for Ryan Loughney?

Loughney, a Tri-Valley graduate, is focusing his attention on making the 2016 Olympic Games in the hammer throw, but he has not ruled out a chance to make this summer's London Olympics.

"I wouldn't leave it out of things that are possible,'' Loughney said, "because I've seen first-hand that marks like what my goals are, are possible to get into a USA or Olympic team. I would like to make the (Olympic trials) final this year and have a good, solid showing.''

"He's starting to throw a scare into people because he has improved every year,'' said Ashland coach Jud Logan, a four-time U.S. Olympic thrower. "I can't say what his high-end potential is but we feel after this year that he'll be one of the better prospects in the country ... for the 2016 Olympic Games.''

Before that happens, Loughney will attempt to repeat as national champion in the weight throw at this weekend's NCAA Division II championships in Mankato, Minn. Loughney, a senior at Ashland, is the dominant No. 1 seed, his mark of 75 feet, 5¼ inches ranking No. 2 all-time in Division II.

"I am pretty much expecting it of myself,'' he said of his gold-medal chances. Loughney won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association meet on Feb. 25 with a throw of 73-1¾, and is unbeaten against college competition this season.

On Friday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Loughney its Midwest region field athlete of the year. He is one of 26 male athletes on the Bowerman Award watch list, the Heisman Trophy of college track and field.

Loughney said sometimes it's hard for him to believe he's having this much success in the sport.

"It's just unreal to me,'' he said, "especially coming from the background I have, being in Tri-Valley and just finding the hammer and picking it up and excelling so much. Sometimes I feel like I am way out of my own expectations and I've gone out of what I thought was human. As soon as that happens, I kind of bring myself back to earth and say, 'This is where you came from and this is where you are going.' As of right now, I have no idea where I am going, and I am looking forward to it.''

Once the NCAA meet is over, Loughney will turn his attention to the hammer throw, with his first meet of the season in three weeks in South Carolina.

"Everything is going really well,'' he said. "I've really just been trying to focus more on the Olympic trials and the hammer throw, rather than the indoor events.''

During winter training, Loughney has thrown the 35-pound weight 10 times per week while taking 100-120 throws in the hammer, which is an outdoor event.

Logan said he did not have a "forecasting crystal ball" to predict Loughney would throw 75 feet in weight and 75 meters in hammer when he was recruiting him, but he liked the kid's style and determination.

"I thought if he could work hard he could be a Division II national champion,'' Logan said. "This is a kid who is not ordinary. His passion for the hammer is unlike any athlete I've had in my program -- how he teaches it, how he coaches it, how he lives it, how he studies it. It's borderline OCD" -- obsessive compulsive disorder.

Loughney's best hammer throw is 71 meters. Logan would like Loughney to reach 73 in time for the May outdoor NCAA championships, and one final training cycle may be just enough for Loughney to shock the field at Olympic trials in late June.

"If he continues to improve as he has over the years and he's throwing 75 meters in June, he possibly could be third,'' Logan said. "He would have to have a hell of a day, but if he can get to 73 meters during the regular season, there's no reason he can't improve two meters and have his Bob Beamon moment. The U.S. hammer world would be shocked."